Distributed backup system

Abstract

A distributed backup method includes defining a server group having a plurality of server computers, and providing each server computer with an identical backup policy and an identical storage policy. The method also includes transmitting, at each server computer of the server group to every other server computer of the server group, advertisement messages describing available storage space for storing backups, and receiving, at each server computer from the server, at least some of the advertisement messages. The method also includes identifying, at a first server computer using the backup policy, at least a first service to be backed up, selecting a second server computer using the received advertisement messages, transmitting, from the first server computer to the second server computer, a backup including information corresponding to the at least one service, and storing the backup, by the second server computer using the storage policy.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A backup method for a plurality of computers, the backup method comprising:
 obtaining a backup policy configured to control backing up services executed on a first computer of the plurality of computers, wherein each of the plurality of computers comprises a respective identical copy of the backup policy, wherein each respective identical copy of the backup policy is configured to control backing up services executed on a respective computer by the respective computer, wherein the backup policy is configured to specify a maximum period that the services can be present on the first computer without being backed up; 
 selecting a second computer of the plurality of computers configured to store a backup of the services of the first computer based at least in part on the backup policy; and 
 backing up the services of the first computer to the second computer. 
 
     
     
       2. The backup method of  claim 1 , wherein the backup policy is configured to store the backup of the services of the first computer on the second computer when the second computer has the largest amount of available backup storage space among the plurality of computers. 
     
     
       3. The backup method of  claim 2 , wherein the backup policy is configured to store the backup of the services of the first computer on the second computer when the second computer has the largest amount of available backup storage space in high speed storage space among the plurality of computers, wherein the high speed storage space comprises storage space on a high speed storage device of the second computer configured to operate faster than a low speed storage device of the second computer. 
     
     
       4. The backup method of  claim 1 , wherein the backup policy is configured to store the backup of the services of the first computer on the second computer when the second computer has the least amount of consumed backup storage space among the plurality of computers. 
     
     
       5. The backup method of  claim 4 , wherein the backup policy is configured to store the backup of the services of the first computer on the second computer when the second computer has the least amount of consumed backup storage space in high speed storage space among the plurality of computers, wherein the high speed storage space comprises storage space on a high speed storage device of the second computer configured to operate faster than a low speed storage device of the second computer. 
     
     
       6. The backup method of  claim 4 , wherein the backup policy is configured to store the backup of the services of the first computer on the second computer when the second computer has the least amount of consumed backup storage space in high speed storage space and low speed storage space among the plurality of computers, wherein the high speed storage space comprises storage space on a high speed storage device of the second computer configured to operate faster than a low speed storage device of the second computer having the low speed storage space. 
     
     
       7. A system comprising:
 a plurality of computers communicatively coupled together comprising at least a first computer and a second computer, wherein the first computer comprises:
 a first memory configured to store first instructions and a backup policy; and 
 a first processor configured to execute the first instructions stored in the first memory to cause the first computer of the plurality of computers to:
 identify a first service executed on the first computer to be backed up based at least in part on the backup policy, wherein the backup policy is configured to control backing up the first service by the first computer by specifying a first maximum period that first data corresponding to the first service can be present on the first computer without being backed up; 
 selecting the second computer of the plurality of computers on which to store a backup of the first service; and 
 storing the backup on the second computer; 
 
 
 wherein the second computer comprises a second memory configured to store an identical copy of the backup policy, wherein the identical copy of the backup policy is configured to control backing up a second service executed on the second computer by the second computer by specifying a second maximum period that second data corresponding to the second service can be present on the second computer without being backed up. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the backup policy is configured to identify the first service based at least in part on a time elapsed since change of information associated with the first service. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first computer and the second computer each comprise a respective high speed storage device and a respective low speed storage device, wherein the respective high speed storage device is configured to operate faster than the respective low speed storage device. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first memory is configured to store a storage policy, wherein the first processor is configured to execute the first instructions stored in the first memory to cause the first computer of the plurality of computers to store the backup on the respective high speed storage device of the second computer if there is space available on the respective high speed storage device of the second computer based at least in part on the storage policy. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first processor is configured to execute the first instructions stored in the first memory to cause the first computer of the plurality of computers to store the backup on the respective low speed storage device of the second computer if there is not space available on the respective high speed storage device of the second computer based at least in part on the storage policy. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the second memory is configured to store a storage policy, wherein the storage policy is configured to specify a first maximum age for backups stored in the respective high speed storage device of the second computer and a second maximum age for backups stored in the respective low speed storage device of the second computer. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second computer comprises a second processor configured to execute second instructions stored in the second memory to cause the second computer of the plurality of computers move the backup from the respective high speed storage device of the second computer to the respective low speed storage device of the second computer when the backup reaches the first maximum age based at least in part on the storage policy. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second computer comprises a second processor configured to execute second instructions stored in the second memory to cause the second computer of the plurality of computers to delete the backup from the respective low speed storage device of the second computer when the backup reaches the second maximum age after moving the backup from the respective high speed storage device of the second computer to the respective low speed storage device of the second computer based at least in part on the storage policy. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second computer comprises a second processor configured to execute the second instructions stored in the second memory to cause the second computer of the plurality of computers to move the backup from the respective low speed storage device of the second computer to a different computer of the plurality of computers when the backup reaches the second maximum age after moving the backup from the respective high speed storage device of the second computer to the respective low speed storage device of the second computer based at least in part on the storage policy. 
     
     
       16. A backup method for a plurality of computers, the backup method comprising:
 obtaining a backup policy configured to control backing up a service executed on a first computer of the plurality of computers, wherein each of the plurality of computers comprises a respective identical copy of the backup policy, wherein each respective identical copy of the backup policy is configured to control backing up a service executed on a respective computer by the respective computer, wherein the backup policy is configured to specify a maximum period that the service can be present on the first computer without being backed up; 
 monitoring contents stored on the plurality of computers; 
 selecting a second computer of the plurality of computers on which to store a backup of the service based at least in part on the contents of the second computer; and 
 storing the backup of the service on the second computer. 
 
     
     
       17. The backup method of  claim 16 , wherein monitoring the contents stored on the plurality of computers comprises monitoring an amount of space available to store backups on the plurality of computers. 
     
     
       18. The backup method of  claim 16 , wherein selecting the second computer comprises determining an amount of space available on the second computer. 
     
     
       19. The backup method of  claim 18 , wherein the second computer comprises the greatest amount of space available among the plurality of computers. 
     
     
       20. The backup method of  claim 16 , wherein the service is identified based at least in part on being present on the first computer longer than the maximum period.